Removal of Carcinogenic Azo Dyes from Water by New Cyclodextrin-Immobilized Iron Oxide Magnetic Nanoparticles

In this study, beta-cyclodextrin was functionalized with [3-(2,3-epoxypropoxy)propyl] trimethoxysilane to obtain a new silica-based beta-cyclodextrin in order to provide a binding side for immobilization onto iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). The prepared beta-cyclodextrin-immobilized MNPs were characterized by a combination of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, transmission electronmicroscopy, elemental analyses, and X-ray diffraction analysis. Moreover, the study regarding the removal of carcinogenic azo dyes such as Direct Blue 15, Evans Blue, and Chicago Sky Blue from aqueous solutions was also carried out using beta-cyclodextrin-immobilized MNPs in a solid-liquid sorption system. The results indicate that the prepared beta-cyclodextrin-based magnetic sorbent has high sorption ability towards Direct Blue 15, Evans Blue, and Chicago Sky Blue with similar to 98, 99, and 99 % at pH 3.0, respectively.